Top 12 Most Memorable Encounters

Coming off a spectacularly lucky (photographically) year, 2017 was a no good, awful, downright miserable stretch of bad luck. Though we spent more time in the field than ever, we captured content only about 10% of the time we set out to look for wildlife. Yet for all the bad luck, we had some incredible moments – and, based on our last two forays into the Rockies, our luck also seems to be changing. Here’s hoping 2018 is the best year yet.

Otters

Friend Sam Parks once said something to the effect of if you don’t love watching otters, you don’t have a heart. He’s right. Since otters, for the most part, moved away from Trout Lake in Yellowstone some years ago, our evncounters have been few and far between. So when Simon spotted three heads peaking out from the ice in a vicious snow storm in Jasper National Park, we were as shocked as we were pleased. Despite the brutal cold and the fact we eventually had to take turns photographing the aquatic mustelids (our hands were so cold we couldn’t compress the shutter), we were able to watch the otters play, hunt, eat, sleep and just generally be the most joyous, fun creatures in the wilds of North America. The fact we were able to share the encounter with a couple from Vancouver – Robin and Mark – who also have a passion for the mustelid family made it even more special, as all of us knew what a treat this sighting was and valued every moment of the prolonged encounter.